ANCIENT SOURCES OF INFORMATION ABOUT JESUS' LIFE Religious Studies 435 Robert Kraft Primary Goal: To understand what factors are at work in the origination, recording, transmission and application of information about memorable figures of the past (or present) such as Joshua (Jesus) who came to be called by his followers "the Messiah" (Christ). Means to the Goal: Familiarity with the ancient sources (including fragmentary ones) that make claims about Jesus' life and status; familiarity with the diverse attitudes towards Jesus in antiquity; familiarity with modern theories about the relationships of the ancient materials. INTRODUCTION (see materials for RelSt 135): Working Backwards through the Sources and Traditions The Greco-Roman ("Hellenistic") Melting Pot Christianities in the Ancient World (see also RelSt 535) Judaisms in the Ancient World (see also RelSt 525) ANCIENT SOURCES ABOUT JESUS References by "Outsiders" (e.g. Josephus, Tacitus) Early Christian Sources 1 -- Elements of Form and Content Attributed to Jesus' own writing: Abgar correspondence Sayings/Discourse attributed to Jesus: Relatively Short/Simple : G.Thomas, the "Q" stratum Connected Discourses: Johannine discourse stratum, Epist.Apostles, Nag Hammadi, etc. Narratives about Jesus on earth: General: G.Mark, "Secret Mark," etc. Last Days: "G.Peter," G.Nicodemus (Acts of Pilate), etc. Birth & Early Life: Book ("Protevangel") of Jacob/James, Infancy G.Thomas, P.Cairo 10, etc. Early Christian Sources 2 -- Syntheses of Form and Content The "Synoptic Gospels" Type Synthesis: Matthew, Luke, P.Ox 1224, P.Ox 840, G.Ebion, G.Heb, G.Naz The Johannine Type Synthesis: G.John and its sources, P.Eger 2 Beyond the Synoptics and John: Diatessaron, "Ps-Matthew" Perspectives on Jesus in the Ancient Sources Jesus Effects "Salvation" -- All Else is Superfluous Jesus as Wise Teacher Jesus as Revealer of Heavenly Mysteries Jesus as Healer and Miracle Worker Jesus as Everything OVERVIEW: Lessons in Scholarly/Academic Method Jesus in the hands of Modern Historians and Critics Albert Schweitzer's Quest of the Historical Jesus Rudolph Bultmann and the Relevance of Jesus Searching for the Authentic Jesus in the Sayings Material Jesus the Unknown Jesus in the hands of Modern "Novelists" Jesus in literature and verbal representation Jesus in film and visual representation //end (9/9/98)//